Leaf Booted From Treatment, Sent To Prison

The Montana Department of Corrections Thursday booted out former Washington State University quarterback Ryan Leaf from its drug treatment center and sent him to a state prison for threatening a staff member and for “other unspecified behavioral problems.” Leaf pleaded guilty in May to breaking into two houses and stealing prescription drugs. His five-year sentence called for him to spend nine months in the treatment facility as an alternative to prison.

The department released a statement by Great Falls regional probation and parole administrator Dawn Handa Thursday that said Leaf will now serve his sentence in the prison at Deer Lodge. The Great Falls Tribune also reported Leaf’s imprisonment Thursday.

“He was found guilty of behavior that violated conditions of his drug treatment program. The violations included threatening a program staff member,” Handa said in the statement. The department did not respond to questions about the nature of Leaf’s threats.

It was not immediately clear how the change would affect a probation violation Leaf is facing in Texas for 2010 drug charges. Randall County (TX.) prosecutors canceled their outstanding warrants so Leaf could serve his Montana sentence before facing possible penalties in Texas.

Leaf was charged with stealing prescription medication from a player’s home while he was a coach at West Texas A&M. An investigation found he obtained nearly 1,000 pain pills from area pharmacies in an eight-month span. His Montana conviction is a violation of his Texas probation.

Leaf, who led the Cougars to the Rose Bowl following the 1997 season, was the No. 2 pick in the 1998 NFL draft behind Peyton Manning.

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